Washer feeding device



.Feb. 17, 194-2. C |Rw|N I WASHER FEEDING DEVICE Filed Oct. 3, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. c/ rlaffiwm Jun: llll' Feb-17, 1942. c. J.IRWIN 2,273,783 .WASHER FEEDING DEVICE Filed Oct. f5, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 2 w i L. w i ms a i i w w E b i m1 g U 1. m a w m w ,6 W ,0-rmwr 6 7 2 3. x 6 i K g i mm m wt m 5 gm N v. Y. w a m .a 2 R. 5 4 EQ7. Q7

v ers to an assembly. point.

ing movements of the disc or member. A further object of the inventionis to provide .a rotary disc or shiitable feed member forfeed Patented fche-1 f v STATES PA NT orrlcc wssnaa rename novice I Charles J. 111.,assignorto Illinois Tool nois' Works, Chicago, 111., a corp rationoflilimuses October s, 1940, Scrial No. 359,543

, 18 Claims." (o1. -169) This invention relates to a machine. ormechanism for assembling screws and washers, and more particularly to ameans for feeding wash- It is an. object of invention toprovide foruse-in a screw and washer-assembly mechani'sm or the like amore-'eflicient washer "feeding device including a shiftable washerfeedmember or disc adapted for feeding in an eflicie'nt man-- ner at arelatively high rate substantially all types of washers includingwashers for which,

by reason of their shape, size or structural form-'- tion, no device hasbeen provided capable of aue tomatically feeding such washers inindividual succession from a mass to a predetermined point and in apredetermined position for assembly with screw elements.

It is more particularly an object of applicants invention to provide arotary washer --feed disc or shiftable feed memberfor feeding-washerswhich by reason of their size; shape or" other structuralcharacteristics, do not readily seat themselves inv co-planar recessesof a'flat feed disc or member, or having beenseated; are only.

with difficulty retained therein 7 during the feed:

disc or shiftable feed member, individual washer receiving pockets eachhaving a radial opening therethrough to permit aiwasher to move into apocket during a certainpredetermined portion of the range of movement ofthe disc or-feed member; to move out of the pocket during anotherpredetermined p r i n of the range of movement of the disc or feedmember; and-to provide means to prevent movement of the washers out ofthe pockets between these predetermined portions of therange of movementof the disc or feed member. I

Other and further objects and advantages of the: invention will beapparent from the following description when taken in connection with thaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary view in plan of a machine or mechanismembodying the invention:

.' Figure 1;

ing relatively very thin washers, particularly continuous ringlockwashers having relatively thin flat body portions. a

It is also an objector this invention to devise means cooperating with awasher-feed disc or shiftable feed member to provide individual washerreceiving pockets into which the washers may pass while still remainingon the surface of the feed member or disc or into which the-washers maymove directly along the surface of such.

discorfeed-member; ,v

The invention also contemplates the provision of a washer feedmeansincluding shopper of whichone wallis formed by an inclined feeddisc or shiftable member onto which the washers may accumulate froma'mass dumped into the hopper, and wherein the feed disc or shiftablefeed member is provided with an.upstanding flange having a plurality ofpockets receiving individual washers from the accumulation on the discor member, which pockets extend upwardly from the surface ofthediscforfeed member for which the device of the present invention is adapted; v

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in plan taken along the line8-8 of Figure 3 and showing the construction of thewasher feed member; I

Figure 715 a fragmentary view in perspective of another portion of thewasher feed member; Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in vertical sec-'tion taken along the line 8-'-8 of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in vertical section similar to Figure 8,but showing a modified form of washer feed member;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view' in vertical section similar to Figure9, but showing a second modified form of washer feed member; and

so that the washers may move by gravity direct- 1y along the inclinedsurface of the disc .or member into the pockets. I

.It is a further object of the invention to provide in a washer feeddevice including arotary Figures 11, 1 2 and 13 are fragmentary viewssimilar to Figures 6,! and 8 of another modified form of washer feedunit. I

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, screw elements or blanks 2 are fed to theassembly mechanism l along the inclined gravity feed chute 6 composed ofspaced inclined guide bars 8 and ill. The screw elements or blanks maybe supplied to the chute 6 by any suitable conventional mechanism ordevice as shown by Hanneman Patent No. 2,152,591, issued March 28; 1939.

From the assembly mechanism 4, screw elements or blanks assembled withwashers are conveyed by an inclined chute l2 composed of spaced bars l4and 10. By the chute l2 these assembled units may be carried to anenlarging, extruding, or thread rolling mechanism, as shown in saidHanneman patent.

The assembly mechanism 4 may be of any suitable construction receiving ascrew element at the lower end of the chute 8; moving downwardly totelescope the element into a washer and position it at the upper end ofthe chute l2 and then releasing the element for conveyance with thewasher along the chute l2. Preferably this as- I sembly mechanism isofthe construction disclosed low, generally cylindrical supportingmember or mechanism housing I. as by interfltting with the I rabbetedupper edge of the housing and the ring in the application of Walter M.Hanneman, Serial No. 344,359, filed July 8, 1940. x

Briefly stated, this assembly mechanism comprises a pair of screwreceiving jaw members i8 fulcrumed on a hollow slide bar or'sleeveslidable in a tubular guide 22. The guide 22 carries a sleeve 24 havinga bevelled inner surface 28 causing a desired opening movement of thejaw members as they approach their upper' limit'oi movement. The guide22 also carries anabutment or collar 22 causing a desired openingmovement of the jaw members as they approach their lower limit ofmovement. A slide rod 20 which engages the head of a screw clamped inthe jaw members is slid-ably mounted in the bar or sleeve 20 and isoperated by a lever 22. As the slide rod 20 moves downwardly, it engagesthe head of the screw element and causes the jaw membersholdirvilat'tthe screw element to move downwardly there- The tubularguide 22 is carried by a bracket 34 adjustably secured at its outer endto a base casting or support 36. The lever 32 is moved downwardly by aspring 22 secured at. one end to the lever and at the other end to thebracket. Rotary cam II moves the lever upwardly and controls itsdownward movement. The cam operates upon the lever through'a slide pin42 mounted in the bracket N and engaging a set screw 44 carried by thelever. Washers are conveyed or supplied to the assembly point, in thepath of movement of the screw elements carried by the jaw mem-- bers l8,by a combined hopper and washer feed mechanism 40. t

The washer feed mechanism comprises a washer hopper 48 which in detailmay be of the construction disclosed in the application of William"Stern, Serial No. 277,344, iiled June 5, 1939, or the application ofOugljeaa Jules Poupitch, Serial No. 282,517, filed July 1. 1939. Such ahopper includes an inclined annular washer retaining wall member orshell II, a portion of which is cut away in the line of the guide chutesso that one vertical edge -of the wall at the ,cut

away portion abuts the outer surface of the guide 1 bar II and thecorresponding opposite edge of the cut away portion abuts the outersurface of the guide bar ll. The bottom wall of the hopper is formed bya washer feed disc or shiftable feed member 52 rotatably supported upona stationary disc or ring 54. The disc I2 and its supporting plate orring 84 are inclined, preferably at the-same angle as the guide chutes 6and I2,

and. the common axis of the disc and plate or ring is coincident withthe axis of the shell b0 ,and extends'substantially at right angles tothe parallel, longitudinal edges or-surfaces of the guide chutes i andI2.

The tubular shell" may besecured to a holor plate 54 is supported uponthe upper edge of the housing within the tubular shell 50 as seen inFigure 3. The annular wall of the housing 58 and the ring orplate 54 arecut away so that they abut the upper ends oi the guide bars I4 and itand extend along the outer surface of the guide l0 barlO. v

The disc 52 is rotated, preferably intermittently, by any suitableoperating mechanism 58 which may be of the construction disclosed in theabove-mentioned application of Ousllesa Jules Poupitch.

An annular member or ring 60 extends over the rim of the disc 52 and isspaced therefrom by a plurality of'angularly spaced lugs 62. The annularmember 60, the disc 52, and each pair of adjacent-lugs 62 form a washerpocket or receptacle 84 open along its opposed inner and outer walls.The disc is rotated by its drive mech- .anism 58 in a counterclockwisedirection to carry washers from the mass in the lower portion of thehopper in an upward direction, during which time the washers becomeseated or received-in the receptacles and then the washers are carriedoutwardly of the hopper and in a downward direction to the assemblypoint at the upper end of the guide chute l2 beneath the assemblymechanism 4.

Each lug 62 is of a thickness substantially equal to, but slightlygreater than, the maximum axial thickness of the washer so that thespace between the ring and the disc 52 is suiiiciently large to permit awasher to slide readily flatwise along the surface of the disc into thisspace,

but is sufllciently small so that the ring holds:

' as shown'inFigure 6.

The annular member or ring 60 and the disc 52 are provided with aligned,angularly spaced,

' outwardly opening peripheral recesses or notches I0 and I2 centrallyof the receptacles 64 to permit insertion of the shanks of the screwelements into the washers in such receptacles and to permit extractionorejection of the assembled screws and washers from the disc and the ringill as they continue to rotate after assembly of the screws and washersand carry the assembled elements along the guide chute l2, the assembledelements being conflned to the guide chute by the projection of theshanks of the-screw elements into the space between the guide bars IIand I8.

An annular rail or member 14, best shown in Figure 4, is secured to thehopper wall or shell 50 as by integral attaching lugs 16 welded orbolted to the shell. The attaching lugs I6 are so formed that the 'rail16 overlies the upper half of the disc, 52 in close juxtaposition to theupper surface of the disc and in close juxtaposition to the inner edgeof the annular member or ring 68. Thus the rail 14 closes the inner.Sides of the receptacles about" the upper suitable non-radial angle todirect the washers into the washer receptacles as the disc rotates.

The washer directing plate or bar I8 extends 'beyond the rail I4 towardthe hoppershell 88 to form an attaching lug 88 welded or boltd tothe-shell and awasher directing bar portion 82 overlying the ring 88. Aplurality of angularly spaced lugs 84 may be secured if desired to thesurface of the annular member orring (8 to provide means for agitatingthe washers in the mass in the lower portion of the hopper to facilitatethe distribution of washers onto the surface of the disc 52. formed toprovide a rear edge 86 extending generally radially of the disc and aninwardly tapering forward edge 88 extending in a non-radialdirectionrelative to the disc. As the disc rotates, washers in the massin the lower portion of the hopper fall into the spaces between the lugsand some are carried. to the upper portion ofthe hopper and gravitatefrom between the lugs and slide downwardly along the,surface washers arebeing moved from the lower part to the upper part of the hopper in orderthat the washers may be distributed more uniformly over the surface ofthe disc and therefore have a greater opportunity to become properlypositioned so as to move into the washer receptacles.

.The bevelled faces 94 of the bars 98 permit I washers to slidedownwardly of the disc as they Eachlug is preferably pass beyond thehighest point of the hopper so that they .will be readily returned tothe mass in the lower portion of the hopper without interfering with theassembly operation, and at the same time increase the possibility of thewashers becoming seated in-a recess from which a washer, assembled witha screw element, has just been extracted. In other-words, the bars 98,by reason 7 -of their disposition and configuration, serve to sodistribute the washers on the feed disc as to increase the opportunityfor the washers to beof the disc, thereby increasing the'opportunitiesfor the washers to become tacles 84.

Itshould be noted that the rail I4 is of a thickness substantially equalto the combined thickness of the lugs-82 and thering 8850 that thewashers may readily pass over the rail from between the lugs 84 as thelugs move along the rail. The forward edges 88 of the lugs 84 beingseated in the receptate this movement of the ,washers out of the spacesbetween the lugs and have the further important advantage, of applying acomponent of force to the washers which is directed in- I inclined withrespect to and diverging inwardly from the rear edges 88 of adjacentlugs, facili- The bar portion 82 of the washer di-' recting plate 18 iscut away at its lower edge .su'fliciently to clear the lugsahd coopertes with its plate 18 to prevent washers from'pi ing up against thehopper wall, forwashers piling up against the hopper'wall will becarried by the ring 68 and lugs 84 against the plate I8 and its barportion 82, the washers being thereby soagitated that the pile-0r. stackis broken up and hence the washers gravitate back into the massor-becomedistributed over the surface of the disc 52.

The washer feed disc 52 is'also providedwith a plurality of angularlyspaced barsor rib form-L ing portions 98 extending tangentially from acommon imagina: v 'circle and across the surface of the disc. The bars98 terminate inwardly of the inner edge of the ring; 88 a suflicientdistance to clear the rail 14. Each bar 98 is formed "to provide aforward face 92 extending substantially at right angles tothe surface ofthe disc and' a bevelled face 94 tapering downwardly. in a directionopposite to the direction ofgrotatio'n of the disc. the disc into aplurality of sectors or sections,

The bars 98 divide the surface-of I come positioned in thereceptacles84.

A washer detector 98, including a washer detecting finger 98, may be ofthe construction disclosed in the Hanneman. Stern, or Poupitchapplications, above mentioned. This detector is so positioned that thefinger 98 lies in the plane of the lugs 62 and moves inwardly of areceptacle 84. If the receptacle contains no washer atthe time itreaches the asembly point, the finger is moved inwardly and overlies thelower recess 12 at the assembly point so as to form an abutmentpreventing downward movement of the assembly mechanism a sufllcientdistance to release the screw element. .The assembly mechanismthereforeretains the screw element as it moves upwardly and a washerlessscrew element is therefore not fed to the chute I2. If-in the caseofsmall washers, the space between the lugs 82' be. not suflicient toaccommodate the inward movement of the washer detector, the lugs 82 maybe terminated inwardly of the periphery of the disc 52 or acircumferential slot provided in the outer edgeof each lug to providesuch clearance.

In the form shown in Figure9,- the lugs 82 are shaped to accommodatewashers of the crown type, i.. e. washers having outwardly pressedcentral portions or crowns. .Thus as shown in Figure 9, each lug' I88corresponding to a lug 82 of the form shown in Figure 7, is providedwith flanges I82 extending into the washer receptacles and spaced fromthe upper surface of the disc 52 a distance slightly greater than thethickness of the main body portion of the crown washers each including aplurality of washer receptacles Y 88. The abrupt face 92 of each barprevents" the washers from sliding on their flat faces from one sectortoanother during the'time trait the I84. Thus each receptacle between theedges I86, conforming to the edges 88 of the lugs 82, is incircumferential vertical section of the same shape as the crown washers.

In the form shown in Figure 10, the lugs I88 corresponding to the lugs82 of the form shown in Figures 1 to'l, are shaped tesaccommodatefrusto-conical' lock washers. Thus as shown in Figure 10, each lug I 88is provided with opposed side edges II8 bevelled or tapered oppositelyfrom the opposite edges of, the peripheral recesses or notches 12 in thedisc 52. Hence each washer receptacle is shaped in circumferentialvertical section between its edges corresponding to the edges thefrusto-conical. washers. In the form shown in Figures 11 to 13, the

"of Figures 6 and 7 to conform tothe shape of washer feed disc II2,corresponding to the disc 82, is provided with a plurality of 'angulariyspaced outwardly I I2, surface opening peripheral recesses I, Thusflas.theewashersf-sare fed'= 'brthe"disc,

W lidma lmem berl l and the flanges the main body portion of the crownwashers I20. Thus as the crown washers slide along the surface of thedisc'into the washer receptacles, they are guided by the flanges and thecut away edges of the lugs beneath lthese flanges into position abovethe recesses I llinto which they then fall to the position shown inFigure 13 with their main body portions received in the recesses andlying in the plane of the disc II2.

Since in this form of the invention the rail 14 I is unnecessary (forthe seated washersare retained against radial inward movement by theedges of the recesses N4), the lugs IIB are extended inwardly of theinner edge of the ring 60 as at I22 so as to agitate the washers lyingon the disc and provide projections defined by oppositely tapering edgesI24 for engaging and directing washers into the receptacles I25 that inthis form of the invention are open not only along their inner and outersides, but also in open communication at theirbottom side with therecesses III.

Lugs or blocks I28 are secured to the upper surface of the ring 50 andformed to provide bevelled or tapering forward edges I28 extendinginwardly from the upper flat faces of the lugs to the surface of thering 80. The rear ,edge

or face I30 of each lug I26extends substantially at right angles to thesurface ofthe ring" 60.

.Crown type washers hav a tendency to pile up in stacks with the centralor crown portion of one washer interfltted with the outwardly pressedcentral portion of an adJacent washer. The bevelledfaces I28 of the lugsI26 provide effective means for separating these stacked washers, the

. relatively sharp forward upper edge of the lugs engaging between thecircumferential edges of adjacent washers and tending to lift "the upperwasher from the lower washer which is held down by the bevelled faceI28. The lugs I I8 terminate ery of the disc III to. provide clearancespace for. the washer detector 38 inwardly of the periph thin washershaving relatively thiniflat body portions.

The invention has also provided means cooperating with a washer feeddisc or shiftable feed member to provide individual washer receivingpockets into which the washers may pass while still remaining on-thesurface of the feed member or disc or into which the washers may movedirectly along the surface of such disc or feed member.

Applicant-has further provided washer feed means including a hopper ofwhich one wall. is formed by an inclined feed disc or shiftable memberonto which the washers may accumulate frcm a mass dumped into thehopper, and wherein the feed disc or shiftable feed member is providedwith an upstanding flange having a plurality of pockets receivingindividual washers from the accumulation on the disc or member, whichpockets extend upwardly from the surface of the disc or feed member sothat the washers may move by gravity directly along the .inclinedsurface of the disc or member into the pockets. a v

"The invention further provides a washer feed device including a rotarydisc or shiftable feed member, individual washer receiving pockets eachhaving a radial opening therethrough to permit a. washer to moveintoapocket during a certain predetermined portion of the range ofmovement of the disc or feed member; to move Changes maybe ma e in theform, construction-and arrangement f the parts without departing fromthe spirit hf the invention or sacri- -flcing any of its advantages, andthe right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fallwithin the scopeof the following claims.

i The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

' 1. Washer.feeding means comprising a shiftable feed plate receiving onits surface a mass of washers, a member overlying a portion of said Itwill be seen from the foregoing description that applicanthas providedfor use in a screw and washer assembly mechanism or the like a moreemcient' washer feedingv device including .a shiftable washer feedmember or disc adaptedfor feeding inan efiicient manner at a relativelyhigh rate substantially all types of washers including washers forwhich, by reason of their shape, size or structural formation, no devicehas been provided capable of automatically feeding such washers inindividual succession from a mass to a predetermined position at apredetermined point for assembly with screw elements.

The invention has more particularly provided a rotary washer feed discor shiftable feedmemher for feeding washers which by reason of theirsize," shape or other structural characteristics, do not readily seatthemselves in co-planar receases of a flat feed disc or member. orhaving been seated, are only with difllculty retained therein during thefeeding movements of the licant hasalso provided a rotary disc orshiftable feed member for feeding relatively very plate and shiftablewith said plate, spaced other members shiftable with said plate andpositioned between said plate and overlying member to form with saidplate and member spaced pool!- ets, said pockets opening inwardly toreceive washers from the mass and outwardly to discharge the washersindividually from the plate,

and means for-shifting said plate, said overlymg member and said othermembers to carry the washers in the pockets successivelyto adischargepoint. 1 I

2. Washer feeding means comprising a rotary discreceiving on its surfacea mass of washers,

an annular member overlying the disc at the periphery thereof, othermembers rotatable with the disc and positioned between the disc andannular member toform with said disc and annular member angularly spacedpockets, said pockets opening inwardly to receive the washers from themass and outwardly todischargethe washers individually, and means forrotating, said disc and said other members to carry the *Washers in thepockets in succession to a dis:

charge point. c 3. Washer feeding means comprising-a rotary discreceiving on its surface a mass of washers,

washers, particularly continuous ring lock an annular member overlyingthe disc at the perlphery thereof and rotatable therewith, other,members rotatable with the disc and positioned between the disc andannular member to form with said disc and annular member angularlyspaced pockets, said pockets opening inwardly to receive the washersfrom the mass and outwardly to discharge the washers individually, astationaryiannular wall extending in the plane of the pockets partiallyabout the disc and annular member to prevent outward movement of thewashers from the pockets, said annular wall being open at the dischargepoint to permit washers to be moved outwardly of the pockets, and meansfor rotating said disc, said annular 'and said other members to carrythe washers in the pockets in succession to. the discharge point.

4. Washer feeding means comprising a hopper having a shiftable washerfeed plate forming a shape to accommodate,in'dividual washers to beportion of the bottom wall and receiving a mass thecircumference-thereof a plurality of spaced pockets each openinginwardly above the plane of the shiftable plate to receive individualwashers from the mass of washers-on the plate andeach to project out ofthe hopper, means providing "j a plurality of angularly spacedpockets-at- .the

opening outwardly to permit passage of the individual washers radiallyof the plate, and means for shifting said plate to carry the washers inthe pockets in succession out of the hopper through the opening in theupstanding wall ..thereof and to a discharge point outside the hopper.

5.,Washer feeding means comprising an inclined rotary disc receiving onits surface a mass of washers, an annularvmember overlying the surfaceof said disc at the periphery thereof,

- lugs rotatable with the disc and positioned be tween said member andsaid disc to form with the member and disc angularly spaced pockets,each of said pockets opening inwardly to receive an individual washerfrom the mass and each hopper. and means for rotating said disc tocarry.

opening outwardly to discharge an individual washer, means for rotatingsaid inclined disc and lugs in a direction to 'move the washers'flrst inan upward direction from the mass to cause in-' dividual washers to beseated in the pockets and then downwardly to carry washers in thepockets to a discharge point, an annular wall member extending in theplane of the pockets partially about the periphery of the disc andanfed, the upstanding wall of. the hopper preventing movement of thewashers outwardlyof openings, the opening'in said upstanding wallpermitting washers when carried by the shift--' able wall section out ofthe hopper to pass out- I wardiy of the openings, and vmeans for,shifting said wall section to carry the washers received in saidopenings to a discharge point outside of the hopper. I

8. Washer feedingmeans an annular upstanding wallportion extendingpartially about the periphery of the disc and.

having an opening therein permitting the ;dls'c periphery of therdiscclosed againstthe upward and downward movement of individual washersreceived in the pockets, e'ach ofxsaid pockets i I being of a size toaccommodate a single washer.

and opening inwardly to receive a washer from a mass on *the'surface ofthe disc and outwardly, to discharge washers individually. the upstand-'ing wall portion of the hopper closing the outer sides of the pocketstoprevent discharge of the washers from the portion of disc within thehopper, but permittingi outward-=- movement of the washers from thepockets in the portion of the projecting out of the the washers in thepocketsin succession out of the hopper to a discharge point.

19. Washer feeding means comprising a rotary.

disc, a member rotatable with said disc and overlying said disc .andextending inwardly from the periphery thereof, angularly spaced lugs ofa thickness substantially equal to the'thicksaid overlying memberandsaid disc to space I said disc from said overlying member, saidovernular member to prevent outward movement of the washers from thepockets, said annular,

wall member having an opening at the discharge ness of the washers to'befed, said lugs being rotatable' with the disc and positioned betweenlying member and said .lugs'fcrming with said disc a pluralityofan'g'ularlyjspaced pockets point to permit outward movement of thewashers from the pockets.

"6. Washer feeding means comprising a hopper having an upstanding sidewall, a rotary I disc forming the bottom of said hopper and receiving onits surface a mass of' washers, a member overlying said disc at theperiphery thereof, spaced members rotatable withsaid disc and positionedbetween said disc and overlying member in angularly spaced pocketsconforming to the diameter and thicknessof the washers to be fed, saidpockets opening inwardly to receive and segregatethe washers. from themass and opening outwardl'y to opening inwardly to, receive individualwashers from a mass upon the surface-.ofjthe disc -andj openingoutwardly at the periphery of 'tl'ie disc" to permit discharge of theindividual washers" from sai'dpockets, an annular wall in the plane ofthe lugs partially about the periphery of the the disc to preventoutward movement of, the washers from the pockets, :but having anopening therein. to permit outward movement of the washers from thepockets at a dischargepoint and means forrotating'said disc.

said overlying member and said lugs to carry the washers in thepockets/in succession to said discharge point. p

1o. Washer feeding means compris ng ,an mclined rotary disc receivingamass or washers r on the surfaoethereof, a member overlying saidand'extending inwardly from the iperiphery' comprising'ahop- I per,aninclined rotary disc forming abottom wall portion of said hopper, saidhopper having member from the surface of the a distance substantiallyequal to the thickness of the washers to be fed, said lugs forming withsaid disc angularly spaced pockets opening inwardly to pockets andopening outwardly topermit the receive individual washers from the masson the surface of the disc and opening outwardly to release the washerat a discharge point, means for rotating said disc to distribute washersin the mass over the surface thereof and to cause the washers togravitate into the pockets in the lower section of the disc, meanspreventing the washers passing into the pockets in the lower section ofthe disc from passing outwardly of the pockets, means preventing washersseated in the pockets in the upper section of the disc from movinginwardly of the disc back into the mass of washers, and means forrotating said disc to carry the washers in the pockets to the dischargepoint.

11. Washer feeding means comprising a rotary disc receiving on itssurface a mass of the washers to be fed, means comprising a membersecured to saiddisc in overlying relation to the disc at thecircumference of the disc and extending inwardly from the peripherythereof said member being spaced from the surface of the disc byangularly spaced projections of a thickness substantiallyequal to thethickness of the washers to be fed, said member and said projectionsforming with said disc angularly spaced pockets each of a .size toreceive an individual washer from the surface of the disc, opposed inneredges of adjacent projections flaring outwardly in opposite directionsto form an enlarged washer directing throat for directing washers on thesurface of the disc into the pockets between adjacent projections, andmeans for rotating said disc to carry washers inapocket to a'dischargepoint for extraction from the pockets.

12. Washer feeding means comprising an inclined rotary, flat discreceiving on its surface the washers to be.fed, means comprising anannular member overlying said disc at the periph- V ery thereof andspaced from the surface of the disc by'angularly spaced projections onthe surface of the disc and of a thickness substantially equal to thethickness of the washers to be fed,

said projections being rotatable with said disc and forming with 1 saiddisc angularly spaced pockets each of a size to receive an individualwasher sliding thereunto along the surface of the rotating disc. opposedinner edges of adjacent projections flaring outwardly in oppositedirections to form an enlarged washer directing throat for directingwashers on the surface of" the disc into the pockets'between adjacentprojections. -means f'or rotating said disc to carry washers in a pockettoa discharge soneand means preventing movement of the washers inwardlyor outwardly of the pockets as they approach the discharge zone, butpermitting movement of the washers out of the pockets at the dischargezone.

13. Means for feeding crown type washers comprising a shiftable feedplate receiving on its surface washers to be fed, a member overlyingsaid plate and; spaced from the surface thereof a distance equal to themaximum thickness of the crown washers by angularly spaced projections,said overlying member and said projections forming with the surface ofsaid-disc vsingularly spaced pockets opening inwardly toward the washerson the plate to permit passage.

of washers from the surface of the discinto the washers to pass from thepockets, the opposed pocket forming edges of adjacent projections havingrecesses therein to receive-the main flat body portions of the crownwashers to prevent tilting of the'washers in the pockets, and means forshifting said feed plate to carry the washers in the pockets inindividual succession to a discharge point.

14. Means for feeding crown type washers comprising a rotary discreceiving on its surface the crown type washers, a member overlying saiddisc and extending inwardly from the periphery thereof, angularly spacedprojections spacing said member from said disc a distance equal to themaximum thickness of the washers on the surface of the disc, saidprojections being spaced 9. distance substantially equal to the externaldiameter of the crowns of the washers and todischarge washers from thepockets, means for rotating said disc to carry washers received in thepockets to a discharge point, and means holding the washers in thepockets against inward or outward movement as the pockets approach thedischarge point.

15. Means for feeding-countersunk or frusi'oconical washers comprising arotary disc, a member overlying the surface of the disc and extendinginwardly from theperiphery thereof, said member being spaced from thesurface of the disc a distance equal to the height'of the countersunk orfrusto-conicai washers by angularly spaced projections forming with themember and disc ,anguiarly spaced pockets opening inwardly to permitwashers on the disc to move into the pockets andopening outwardly topermit washers in the pockets to move from the disc, said adjacentprojections having opposed side edges oppositely inclined to the surfaceof the disc at thecountersunk angle of the washers to preventcountersunk washers not positioned in a predetermined manner on thesurface 'of the disc from passing through the pockets.

- 16. Washer feeding means comprising a rotary disc receiving on itssurface washers to be fed,

means forming with the surface of said disc angularly spaced pockets atthe periphery thereof, said disc having a plurality of angularly spacedrecesses, one for each of said pockets and communicating with thepocket, the opposed side walls of the pockets having outwardly flaringopposed inner edge portions for directing the washers from the disc,into the pockets and having opposed side wall edge portions directingthe. washer into registry with the recesses in the disc,

and means for rotating the disc to carry the washers in the recesses toa discharge point..

17. -W asher feeding means comprising a hopper, said hopper having ashiftable bottom wall section and an upstanding wall portion having anopening therein through which the shiftable bottom wall section moves tocarry the washers out of the hopper, means providing a flangeupstandingfrom the surface of the shiftable wall section with a plurality ofspaced openings therethrough and extending about the periphery ofsaidshiftable wnl section in juxtaposition to the inner surface of theupstanding wall of the hop- .per, each of said openings being of a sizeshape to accommodate individual washers to be fed, the upstanding wall,of the hopper preventing movement of the washers outwardly of saidopenings, the opening in said upstanding Wall permitting washers whencarried by the shiftable wall section out of the hopper to pass out--wardly of the openings, and means for shifting said wall section tocarry the washers received in said openings to a discharge point Outsideof the hopper, and angularly spaced means or members projecting upwardlyfrom the upper surface of the flange means to agitate the washers in themass to distribute them over the surface of the disc.

.18. In a mechanism for assembling screw and washer elements, washerfeed means comprising a shiftable feed plate receiving on its surfaceand I washers to be fed, a member overlying a portion discharge thewashers individually from the plate, v means for shifting said plate tocarry the washers in the pockets successively to an assembly point, saidplate and overlying member having a plurality of spaced pairs of alignedoutwardly opening recesses communicatingwith the pockets to permitinsertion of a screw element through a pair of aligned recesses and intothewasher in the pocket between said recesses and release of the washerswith the screws.

" I CHARLES J. IRWIN.-

